The issue focused on education because studies show that basic math skills can prevent students from dropping out of school and succeed in college. But researchers also found that mathematics education doesn't produce academic gains as quickly as science education.

Now a study published Monday by Science finds that STEM education works better than arts education at preparing students for STEM careers. The research comes from scientists at Duke University, Georgia Tech and Harvard University.

In STEM fields, mathematical abilities are critical to engineering and scientific innovation. Scientists study physics,